Employees leader condemns FM's statement

KAKINADA: AP Employees Joint Action Committee, Amaravati, chairman Bopparaju Venkateswarlu has objected to finance minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy’s statement that while the revenue of the state government is ₹1 lakh crore, ₹90,000 crores is going towards paying salaries to government employees.

Addressing a meeting of the protesting contract, outsourcing and other employees at Dharna Chowk here on Tuesday, the JAC Amaravati chairman accused Rajendranath Reddy of trying to incite people against employees by giving a wrong picture. He said, in fact, only ₹60,000 crores are being spent on all employees, including the secretariat, contract and outsourced staff, as also advisors to state government.

Further, Venkateswarlu said the government has not paid HRA, DA and other allowances and arrears to employees since 2018. It has not even settled benefits of retired employees and pensioners, he pointed out.

The JAC Amaravati chairman said the present state government has not fulfilled even a single promise made to employees so far. He maintained that unless employees join hands with AP JAC, and Amaravati, and fight against the government, they will be unable to achieve their demands.

Venkateswarlu demanded that the government pay salaries to outsourced and contract employees on par with permanent employees, regularise services of contract employees under the rule of reservation, and pay annual increments to senior employees.

Venkateswarlu said a state-level round table meeting will be held on April 28 at Vijayawada to decide on the next agitation programme in case the state government does not respond to the demands of employees. He cautioned employees against believing leaders who are out to cheat them.